The economic prosperity of the Upper Clarence is still heavily dependant upon a healthy beef cattle industry. Shorthorn and Herefords were the first breeds to do well in our unique conditions and they were the dominant breeds in the early part of last century.

Other breeds have become popular over the past fifty years, particularly as the benefits of managed cross breeding programs have come to be better known. Now many different breeds including the tropically adapted Brahman breed can be seen on a country drive through the Upper Clarence.

It can be difficult to fatten cattle in the Upper Clarence, and traditionally graziers have focused on breeding young cattle to be sold at the yearly weaner sales for transport to other areas for fattening.

In the past many young calves have left the region on a long journey to Victoria, packed into rail cars normally used to transport sheep – hence the use of the term still occasionally heard today – “sheepvanner calves”.